University Southern California Trojans
Ifeanyi Ohalete Establishes Himself on Trojan Defense
June 21, 1999 | Football
Oct. 12, 1998
By Paul Goldberg USC Assistant Sports Information Director
It was a twist of fate that didn't happen. USC strong safety Ifeanyi Ohalete (pronounced IF-ee-awn-ee oh-ha-LAY-tay) spent much of his spring semester this year battling for time in the Trojan secondary, proving his salt to a new coaching regime that was evaluating everyone on the team.
He sold himself well and impressed the coaching staff enough to earn a back-up role at strong safety. And because starter Grant Pearsall was slowed by a knee injury at the start of the season, Ohalete started four of USC's first six games, establishing himself as an up-and-comer in a talented Trojan defense.
It could have turned out different.
Ohalete was a standout centerfielder while at Los Alamitos (Calif.) High in addition to being a prep All-American in football. He received interest from football and baseball coaches alike.
He came to USC on a football scholarship but still got feelers from the Trojan baseball coaching staff about trying out for the team. Ohalete decided against it, opting instead to concentrate on football. As it turned out, the USC baseball team ran the collegiate table, winning the national title for the first time in 20 years - without Ohalete. Ohalete can live with that and can live without the ring. It was more important for him to hit at Howard Jones Field than at Dedeaux Field.
"I decided to stick with football and battle for a position," the 6-foot-2, 215-pound business major said. "Besides, after a year and a half, baseball is hard to pick up again."
Ohalete has had enough success this year in football to more than warrant his decision. He has played a vital role in the success of the Trojan defense thus far and is tied for fourth on the team with 28 tackles.
"I entered spring camp just trying to get into the rotation," he said. "I wanted to get on the field for some playing time wherever I could. Fortunately for me, I had a good camp. I got the back-up spot at strong safety and when Grant got hurt, I was able to step into the starting role."
Pearsall started the last game at strong safety, but he and Ohalete are splitting time almost evenly. Ohalete, however, has made a name for himself as much for his special teams work as for his defense.
Against Arizona State, Ohalete took advantage of teammate Antuan Simmon's blocked punt late in the game. The ball richocheted high into the air and Ohalete won a jump ball against fellow safety (and roommate) Rashard Cook and raced 14 yards for the game's decisive score.
"It was awesome," Ohalete said. "I hadn't run a TD in in some time and it was pretty exciting. It being the first touchdown in college, it was special."
He came close to scoring again last week against California. This time, Ohalete did the hard work himself, blocking the first punt of his career and downing the ball at the Bears' 1-yard line just before halftime, leading to a Trojan field goal. He later made his first career interception in the end zone, preventing a score.
Ohalete was used to making highlight plays in high school. He had a school-record 15 interceptions at Los Alamitos and also was an accomplished receiver. He was a prep teammate of fellow Trojan Stanley Guyness and became close to then-USC assistant Mike Sanford while he was recruiting Guyness.
His relationship to Sanford helped strengthen his desire to come to USC, enough so that Ohalete stuck with Troy even when Sanford took a job at Notre Dame.
Ohalete comes from an athletic family. One half-brother, Earl Simpson, played football at Texas A&M and another, Carl, plays professional basketball overseas.
Ohalete is half-Nigerian, from his father's side of the family. He has the same first and last name as his father, though his midde name, Eberachukwu, is different. His name, in part, means "Nothing surpasses God."
He has visited Nigeria twice, when he was 8 and 12, and spent time with his father's tribe, Ebo. He spent most of his time in a small village called Oka, which is near the metropolitan city of Lagos.
"I remember how much love there was for family members," said Ohalete, who still has many relatives living there, "and I remember how much respect there was for your elders, which is a lot different from how it is here." Ohalete understands respect. And he's earning more of it at USC every week.
